Chinese companies accounted for 97% of humanoid robot deliveries in the first half of 2026. A Fraunhofer Institute report says German and other European suppliers could capture part of a component market worth around $30 billion by 2030. Can Europe’s manufacturers join the supply chains now taking shape around the industry’s leading producers?
Research company Smart Analytics Global published its data in August: about 19,100 humanoid robots were delivered in the first half of 2026. It expects about 60,000 deliveries during 2026 and half a million by 2030. China has overtaken the United States in deliveries. Agibot, based in the greater Shanghai area, had delivered 8,400 robots.
Commercially productive use remains limited. Mass production hasn’t arrived, and the market is unsettled. Smart Analytics Global said Chinese industry, backed by government, is trying to speed deployment in manufacturing, logistics and warehousing, where robots could perform clearly defined tasks. “The leap from ‘robots that can put on a show’ to ‘robots that can work reliably’ has yet to be made,” the company said.
Who captures the supply chain
The Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA and consultancy P3 examined opportunities for European suppliers. Vincent Bezold, head of the Automated Manufacturing Systems business segment at IPA and author of the report, said: “In principle, the potential along the German and European supply chain is very large.”
Conventional industrial robots use seven joints; humanoid robots need more than 40. Each joint contains a motor, gearbox, bearing and sensor. German firms Schaeffler, Bosch, Schunk, Wittenstein and Neugart already make gearboxes, motors, sensors or grippers through their traditional automotive-supplier businesses.
The report says European manufacturers have expertise and production facilities for components used in humanoid robots. Recent comparisons indicate some European-made parts have advantages over Chinese-made components. But Bezold said supplier chains tend to develop near original manufacturers. “As a large proportion of humanoids currently comes from China, corresponding supplier structures are likely to form there as well, just as they did in Germany around the automotive industry,” he said. Specialised components remain a particular gap.
Components move toward production
Schaeffler, an automotive supplier based in Herzogenaurach that specialises in motors and drive technology, unveiled a gearbox developed specifically for humanoid robots in August. The company says its high-precision strain wave gear can transmit movement accurately and powerfully in a small space. A new production method could cut manufacturing costs by more than 25% and material use by over 75%. Series production is expected to start in mid-2027.
At Hannover Messe in April 2026, Schaeffler received the Hermes Award for actuators for shoulder, elbow and knee joints. The company says actuators account for around 50% of a humanoid robot’s total cost. It’s seeking to shape part of the robot’s architecture, rather than supply only an individual component.
Bosch and Schunk have worked together since June 2026 on a robot hand designed for integration into different humanoid systems. Schunk specialises in gripping technology and has spent around 20 years developing robot hands. Bosch contributes precision mechanics, electronics and software and is expected to manufacture the hand in series. The hand must grip different workpieces, vary force and work reliably for long periods while remaining compatible with as many robot platforms as possible.
Europe’s place remains uncertain
The Fraunhofer IPA and P3 report says Europe has relatively few humanoid robot manufacturers and few robots are currently built there. “That makes it harder for European suppliers to become part of the relevant value chains at an early stage,” Bezold said. The report calls for coordinated action by industry, policymakers and researchers. It says funding policies focused exclusively on artificial intelligence miss the sector’s hardware requirements.
The VDMA’s “Humanoid Robotics 2040” study, published in April 2026, says annual sales in the millions could be possible by 2042. The mechanical and plant engineering association argues Europe would need “far more capital, stronger support for start-ups and bolder industrial steps.” Whether Europe supplies components to robots from China and the United States or builds its own industrial strength remains unclear. The report identifies influence over technical standards and architectures as a key factor.